A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c33.s2.6

v2.c33.s2.6

The proportion of loss which a metal undergoes on ignition was made the basis for determining its purity and we find in the law-books an arbitrary scale fixed. Thus according to Yājñavalkya, "gold is unaffected by fire, while one hundred parts by weight of silver, tin and copper lose (lit. undergo decay to the extent of ) two, eight and fifteen parts respectively.* This is to be taken as referring not to the roasting (killing) of a metal but simply as allowance made to goldsmiths and other artisans for loss incurred in the shape of dross &c. when it is melted in a crucible.